Recent reports claiming a former chef was suing Brazilian football superstar Neymar for forcing her to work overtime to serve 150 people have been denied by the chef herself.
The controversy began when Brazilian news outlet Metropolises published a report claiming a female chef had filed a lawsuit with the court in Rio de Janeiro. The publication alleged that the woman was hired to work at Casa Hotel Portobello, Neymar’s luxury villa in Mangaratiba, from July 2025 to February 2026.
According to the claims, the chef was subjected to grueling conditions, working up to 16 hours a day to feed Neymar and his entourage of up to 150 people. The reports stated she was seeking over US$50,000 in compensation for unpaid overtime, skipped lunch breaks and severe physical strain, including back pain and hip inflammation allegedly caused by carrying 10 kg cuts of meat.
The claims quickly collapsed when the chef in question, Marcela Lermy Mingorance, broke her silence on Instagram on March 8 to deny the entire story.
Neymar at the 2026 Kings World Cup Nations. Photo by Instagram/@neymarjr |
Mingorance clarified that she never filed any lawsuit against the footballer for labor violations. She also corrected the timeline of her employment, noting that her professional relationship with Neymar actually took place from 2013 to 2018, rather than from 2025 to 2026 as claimed in the reports. She emphasized that her time working for his household was always grounded in ethics and mutual respect.
She also dismissed the reports of a compensation demand, calling it entirely false. She announced her intention to take strict legal action against the individuals and outlets that used her to create the fake news.
After his stint with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal was interrupted by a severe hamstring injury, Neymar returned to his boyhood club, Santos, in January 2025.
Under his current contract, the 34-year-old forward reportedly earns around $15.8 million for the 2025-2026 season, including profit-sharing from club sponsorships. The forward remains focused on regaining his peak form, pushing to secure a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazilian national squad for the 2026 World Cup before a potential retirement at the end of the year.
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